The Administration opposes H.R. 1655 because the bill would hamper the
Department of Energy's ability to carry out its research and development
programs. Specifically, the bill would impose numerous counterproductive
conditions and restrictions on construction, procurement, and management,
including excessive restrictions on foreign visitors at civilian
laboratories. Most significantly, the bill would adversely affect the
construction of the Spallation Neutron Source by authorizing insufficient
funding and imposing unneeded reporting requirements. These provisions
would only serve to delay the project and increase its costs. This
critically important facility is needed to help the United States recapture
its position of world leadership in neutron science and related industrial
and biomedical applications. Similarly, the bill would reduce authorized
funding for the Climate Change Technology Initiative and thereby delay
important developments in fuel efficiency and renewable energy technology.
The Administration would strongly support amendments to increase funding
for these programs at least to the levels requested in the President's
budget.